Tigers never said die
TORQUAY coach Stuart Hill spoke of his relief after the Tigers claimed another premiership at reserve level, knocking off the favourite Modewarre by one point.
The Tigers opened up a 22point halftime lead with a four-goal blitz in the second term, but the Warriors wrestled back momentum in the second half and set up a thrilling final term that featured multiple lead changes.
It took Tigers skipper Alan Bladen hitting the woodwork after a free kick in the pocket to put the Tigers up by a point with little time remaining.
The siren soon followed with Torquay outlasting the minor premiers 10.5 (65) to 10.4 (64), with standout performances from ruckman Connor Williamson and Cameron Sharp (four goals). Sharp impressed, despite a hamstring injury in the second term.
“We just played our way, as cliche as it sounds, we stuck to what we have been training for,” Hill said.
“We were 4-4 after Round 8 but the tide starting turning for us and we started believing in each other and kept building until today.
“We’ve got an amazing community down at Torquay — it’s not the 23 players that played today but it’s also the blokes that missed out and you feel for them, they just put their best foot forward every week and it’s a great community and great club.”
Curtis Dawson was beston-ground with a terrific game across half forward, and said the Tigers took a lot from the semi-final loss to the Warriors a fortnight ago.
“They had two weeks off throughout the finals, so we came out with a bit of fire in us from the game before and that’s what got us over the line,” Dawson said, adding that he would’ve been satisfied with just one medal.
“It means a lot but the team one is the one you want so that’s what means the most to me.”